Readers sound off on Rikers, Bramhall and Mets announcers

September 25, 2018

Shut it down. (James Keivom / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

Bailing out the poor is only fair

Brooklyn: Mayor de Blasio’s recent comments implying that criminal justice reform should extend only to those accused of low-level crimes are incredibly disappointing and cast doubt on his commitment to close Rikers Island and to end the “era of mass incarceration” (“Mayor de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner O’Neill skeptical of charity’s plan to bail out Rikers Island inmates,” Sept. 20). The mayor is exposing himself as someone who does not, fundamentally, believe in due process for everyone — particularly for people experiencing poverty and people of color.

By stating that those like Kalief Browder, unjustly accused of a violent robbery, do not deserve to be free while awaiting trial, the mayor is parroting the same “lock-em-up” talking points that have ushered in the current, intolerable status quo.

The majority of violent felony cases in 2017 ended in dismissal or were eventually dropped by prosecutors. Just 12% of all violent felony cases last year (about 3,000 out of 25,000 cases) ended in a prison sentence, which means that 88% of all people accused of violent crimes in New York City went back to their homes, directly from Rikers Island, begging the question of what exactly the point of holding them there was to begin with. Public safety has nothing to do with how many people we throw into cages and torture at Rikers Island. Nick Encalada-Malinowski, VOCAL-NY

Merit mockery

Brooklyn: Why are parents at the New Voices School of Academic & Creative Arts in Brooklyn shocked to learn that, under Mayor de Blasio’s new diversity plan, it can no longer audition prospective students? Honestly, if the mayor ran this city based on merit, he’d never have been reelected to a second term! Johnny T. Sollitto

Catch the dog-mauler

Elmont, L.I.: Re “Beaten pup found in Bronx” (Sept. 21): To the police who are dragging their feet: Shame on you! Whoever did this needs to be apprehended and punished! Beating the hell out of a puppy is not an insignificant thing. This monster will be free to get another poor dog and do it again. Then he or she is likely to graduate to hurting and actually killing a person! There has to be a real deterrent to animal abuse. Please get this cretin. Kate Ratigan

New pot city

Bronx: It seems our local politicians may be missing something. Most of them are joining the campaign to legalize marijuana. While there may not be a problem for those who need the medicinal version, maybe there is no thought about those of us who wish to walk and drive through our streets without having smoke blown in our faces. Isn’t already bad enough to have the entire city smelling like pot? What about those who don’t get, or don’t want to get, high? Is it going to be a crime to have a drink and drive, but okay to smoke pot all day then drive? Carmelo Burgos

The troubles with taxis

Manhattan: If not for a recent incident, I would not be responding to your Sept. 24 editorial (“Medallion-winning idea”). On Friday, after leaving a memorial service, I started walking uptown on Sixth Ave. trying to get a taxi. I walked nearly eight blocks with no luck. I was not the only one looking for a taxi, either. I finally took one of the two buses I needed to get home. This is a major reason why car services are so successful. It is often not easy to get a taxi; and if you finally get one, it’s almost impossible to get them to go to another borough, or they stop to ask where you’re going, and then refuse because they’re heading back to the garage. Whitney Devlin

At what street, please?

Manhattan: This is probably silly to many readers, but wouldn’t it be great if every time an address is given, they included cross streets? Just think about it. Ever been in a car looking for a number address? Such a simple thing would make so many lives a bit easier! Joan Stein

Morbid humor

Valley Stream, L.I.: To Voicer Rich Hamilton: You believe that almost 3,000 people who died in Puerto Rico, as you put it, “deserved what they got.” You, sir, are a complete moron. Tito Torres

Base Bramhall

Broad Channel: The Daily News has the nerve to label the President a pig and publishes an obscene “cartoon” of him groping Lady Justice (Bramhall’s World, Sept. 23). I always thought of The News as a family newspaper — not anymore. I now consider it an obscene rag! It is now right down there with the National Enquirer and the like. How many children paged through the paper for school assignments and had to see this vulgarity?! The fact that The News has an employee who finds this type of so-called humor acceptable is only half as disturbing as the fact that it got passed the “editors” and was allowed to be printed. Sue Williams

Boorish Bramhall

Brooklyn: I have a few words for the cartoon in the Sunday paper: depraved, disgusting, obscene, lewd, repulsive, sickening, shocking and foul. The artist who drew the cartoon has a very perverted sense of decency, and the fact that you published it makes it all the more reprehensible. The Daily News has been read by my family for six generations, but no more. I’ll never buy another one again. Daily News, you’ve hit a new low, and you owe your readers an apology. Vera Badamo

Bawdy Bramhall

Cliffside Park, N.J.: Sunday’s Bramhall’s World displaying pornography is a shame to the profession of communication. It is too bad that the creator of such garbage could not come up with passionate words to show disapproval and dislike for the President and person of Donald Trump. When complete rage takes over one’s mind then that person often becomes a prisoner to the object of there abhorrence. Hopefully, going forward the Daily News can work towards being a tool for passionate communication minus the rancid thoughts of such uncleanness. Barry Scharch

Bravo, Bramhall!

Amazin’ voices

New Windsor, N.Y.: I agree with Voicer Edward Jurewicz regarding Michael Kay and David Cone. Ditto for John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. They are not Mel Allen and Red Barber, nor are they the marvelous trio of Phil Rizzuto, Frank Messer and Bill White from WPIX-11 days. With that being said, I must say Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are a joy to listen to on SNY. They are knowledgeable about the game, and Howie Rose on WOR radio is just as good. Still, I’ll take Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Kiner as the better three-man booth the Mets have had in their history. Todd Schuster

Tutu much

Brooklyn: Re “Two dancers fired by NYC ballet over nude photo accusations” (Sept. 19): Screw political correctness. The most shocking aspect of the firings/resignations of the male ballet dancers is the revelation that they weren’t gay. Whoda thunk? Stan Rosenson